Silvertone

Entering the third and final phase of suspension/steering upgrades in my '77. I'm want to use VBP 42120 offset A-arms with aluminum cross-shafts. Just checking in to see if anyone has ever had a problem or a regret with these. This is just a modified street car that will be driven hard at times, but lucky to ever see a track.

Some prior mods include all new bearings and bushings, tie rod ends, idler arm, cut GT springs with Bilstein HD, 7-layer rear with Konis (soon to be 330 composite). Spreader bar, heim joint camber arms, and Bridgestone RE-11s on 18"x9.5" rear 18"x8" front.

The only consideration left down the road will be debate between stock steering box or Borgeson.

ddawson

I've read a few posts about them bending.

When I called and asked they suggested the square tube instead.

Silvertone

OK, now that I've seen an old 2013 post (with revealing video demonstrating the sloppy connection between bushings and cross shaft) maybe Global West is the way to go? I can't find any evidence that VBP has resolved that issue. But if I'm not going to save any weight with the beefier GWs (and for $600/pr) maybe I'd be better off just rebuilding the stock arms and notching the cross shafts to get my desired 5* caster.

7t9l82

I can't say specifically about the global west parts but, they make very high quality top shelf stuff. I had an 88 trans am with everything they made for it and that car ran like a rocket sled on rails.
On the other hand VBP makes very good products, I have talked with the Owner face to face and is extremely honest about his products. I would be confident in his recommendation . My 79 has a good supply of VBP products and handles light years better than stock an rides like a luxury car.

Richard454

Vansteel makes a set-

Tubular Upper A-Arm w/Moog Ball Joints

• 6 Degrees Positive Caster for Improved Highway Stability

• Light Weight, Super Strong Chromoly Steel Construction

• Delrin Bushings

• Gloss Black, Long Lasting Powder Coat Finish

• Pre-Assembled

• Van Steel Limited Life Time Warranty

diehrd

TRZ enough said ....................

Silvertone

Tempting. Their website looks popular with drag cars. Just can't find any reviews from street car owners where cornering and braking loads matter most. I guess not enough said.

So its a long shot, but any other TRZ customers feedback on upper control arm durability would be much appreciated!

Steve

7t2vette

SPC Performance is another option:

http://www.summitracing.com/int/part...4360/overview/

That being said, I have had VBP square tube uppers on my car for close to 10yrs now with no issues.

Silvertone

Thanks, it's really a shot in the dark trying to do a survey without a larger sampling population. It's just as likely that the guy posting his video of the tubular a-arm problem was a fluke. I guess I have a few months to solicit more reviews.

76vette1

I used the SPC adjustable upper arms. They were fantastic in getting the front end aligned "without" shims. And my front end had serious issues.

diehrd

All are going to be made to with stand anything a c-3 can put them through .. It is not as if you own some super car that is made to run time and again around a track.

Did you ever set your transition slots correctly ?

Your last post stated the idle A/F bleeders made no effect on the running of the car which is 100% proof your not idling off the idle circuit.

You can not be idling on the idle circuit and those bleeders not cause the car to stall with big changes in the settings of them,such as turning them all in or out , doing that must cause an idle issue.

chevymans 77

I've got the VB&P square tube A-arms with poly bushings,

I've had no issues at all, don't remember how long they've been on the car but its been a while.

Neal

Kacyc3

any issues with them and how much caster adjustment did you get from them?

BOOT77

Reading this thread made me look into it some more as I had planed to buy some uppers finally this winter. Here's an old thread with some info on the VBP, lol forgot I even commented on it. Might of saved me some trouble I've had with VBP if I had remembered. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m-install.html

I've been chatting with TRZ and am pretty sure I'm gonna buy theirs.

jkippin

I put VBP upper and lowers on my car last spring along with the transverse spring set up. No issues at all.
Got a great deal off Ebay for the set up Everything was brand new and included the sway bars.paid 600 for it all.

Just to clarify I have the box tube arms

ddawson

Keep in mind that some arms that don't use the bump stop should have a limiter strap used so you don't beat the crap out the arms at full droop while driving.

It's why I didn't use the SPC arms.

I even replaced the upper stops with shorter ones to give me more room.

Jebbysan

I have the square tube uppers and lowers with the monoleaf setup on my 72'.
If you bend this stuff.....buy a different car. Very well made and still much lighter than stock.
The monoleaf comes with a strut and rod end that attach to tie the frame towers together as well. Not sure if this is available without the mono setup.

Jebby

ignatz

I did use the SPC arms and like them a lot. What's great about the adjustable arms is the shims go away completely, an important factor in stuffing an LS motor into the engine bay.

They do touch metal in full droop. Mark Savitske suggested to me that the shocks would keep the arms from slamming against the frame. Have never gotten airborne to test his thesis. Lots of auto crossing has never made contact. I did opt for the longer ball joint option when I bought them and that ought to help clearance.

Still I would like a little something. Wrapping some heater hose around the contact point would at least prevent metal to metal contact. Think I will go out to the garage right now and take care of this while my lift is set up. It that works out OK I will take a picture and post it.

__________
Thanks for the suggestion Dan. Here's the arm fully down.



In the end I'm fixing something that probably will never happen. There was nothing lying around the garage that seemed to work but just to be safe I'm taking the easy way out and I'm ordering some 1/2" thick adhesive backed rubber from McMaster-Carr to stick on the frame. Just a little more insurance!

ddawson

Wonder if these energy suspension coil spring isolators would work.

Silvertone

Hey Boot, what trouble did you have with VBP?

That is exactly the thread I mentioned earlier where you can see the alarming video by Ricky Berg. I don't want to unfairly perpetuate false fear if 1) It was a unique flaw, or 2) Manufacturing process was changed to address the issue. Haven't heard from anyone else with this problem and nobody seems to have reported this bushing issue with the square tube arms from VBP.